More teens are using IUDs — and experts say that’s a good thing. Here's what parents need to know.

Teen birth rates in the U.S. are at an all-time low, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The birth rate among 15- to 19-year-olds in 2022 was 13.5 per 1,000 females, which is a 3% drop from 2021.

While several factors are likely contributing to this decline in teen birth rates, increased use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) among teens may play a role.

“We’re seeing an increase in teens using IUDs,” Dr. Joyce Gottesfeld, an ob-gyn at Kaiser Permanente, tells Yahoo Life. “As women in their teens and 20s come in and learn about the different contraceptive options and they hear about the benefits of long-acting reversible contraceptive usage, they are opting more and more for IUDs.”

She adds: “In the well-counseled patient, an IUD is really an excellent option.”

Long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs are the most effective form of birth control, according to the CDC. Several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, recommend IUDs as a first-line option contraceptive method for adolescents.

Dr. Victoria Scott, urogynecologist and co-author of "A Woman's Guide to Her Pelvic Floor: What the F*@# Is Going On Down There?," tells Yahoo Life that “adolescents are at particularly high risk of unintended pregnancy” and emphasizes that oral contraceptive pills and condoms more commonly used by teens have higher failure rates in the first year of use — up to 7% and up to 10%, respectively — while IUDs have failure rates of less than 1%.

Dr. Kelli V. Burroughs, chief of staff and department chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Memorial Hermann — Sugar Land Hospital, tells Yahoo Life that teens who use long-acting reversible contraceptives like IUDs “have lower pregnancy rates, are less likely to discontinue use and are more satisfied with their contraception choice in comparison to short-acting contraceptives.”

However, despite their effectiveness and that more teens are starting to use IUDs, experts say the contraceptive is still underutilized. “One of the barriers to more adolescent girls using them is lack of knowledge and familiarity with IUDs,” explains Burroughs.

‘It's extremely effective’

Lillie Forteau, now 20, first learned about IUDs from her ob-gyn when she was 16. She tells Yahoo Life that she was sold almost instantly because “it's extremely effective” and “you can forget about it. If you get the copper IUD, you can literally have that until you graduate from graduate school.” (You can leave in the copper IUD Paragard for 12 years.)

Forteau had her first IUD inserted at 16 and got a second one at 20. She says she likes the idea of avoiding the hormones found in birth control pills. She also opted for an IUD because she doesn’t want to have children and is concerned about the consequences of an unintended pregnancy. “I was scared my reproductive health care would be taken away from me and was happy to have an effective birth control option that lasts many years, so I wouldn't be left vulnerable,” she says.

Forteau’s mother, Jessie Vogit, tells Yahoo Life that she discussed “the pros and cons” of using an IUD with her daughter. Once Forteau decided on an IUD, Vogit supported her daughter’s choice and was glad she “would be using a form of birth control that has a greater chance of preventing unwanted pregnancy,” especially because Forteau “didn't do well with consistently taking birth control pills.”

Are IUDs a good birth control option for teens?

Gottesfeld says that IUDs are an excellent option for teens because they are “extremely effective” at preventing pregnancy since “there is really no chance for user error,” such as forgetting to take a birth control pill every day. Another reason IUDs are a good choice for teens is that “they are so easy,” she says. “They are placed in the office and then can be left in the patient for … five to 12 years.”

According to Gottesfeld, many teens like hormonal IUDs because they can lighten or stop their periods altogether. Another benefit, according to Gottesfeld, is that IUDs don’t cause many of the side effects seen with systemic hormonal contraceptive methods, including birth control pills, such as bloating and breast tenderness. As a result, IUDs are easier for the majority of teens to tolerate. That is true for Forteau, who says she has tried “many” forms of birth control and the “IUD has always been the best.”

Are there risks to teens having an IUD?

IUDs are very safe, according to Planned Parenthood. However, there are downsides and possible risks. For example, IUDs don’t offer protection against sexually transmitted infections (STI), which is why Planned Parenthood also recommends using condoms for protection. Gottesfeld says that parents and doctors need to talk to teens with IUDs about the importance of preventing STIs because they’re at “particularly high risk” of contracting these infections.

Scott adds that there are some additional risks to using IUDs for all women, including a small chance that the IUD could become dislodged without the woman’s knowledge, allowing her to get pregnant. There’s also a small chance the IUD could perforate the uterus, and there’s a low risk of infection when the IUD is placed.

Can teens tolerate the insertion?

After the initial insertion, teens may experience irregular bleeding, spotting or cramping, Gottesfeld says. “This can be frustrating for busy teens so it’s important to talk about it and manage expectations,” she adds.

Burroughs explains that some women, including teens, feel discomfort when an IUD is inserted. That was true for Forteau. She took medication to ease pain before she had both of her IUDs inserted (it’s recommended to take an over-the-counter pain reliever one hour before IUD insertion).

With her first IUD insertion, she felt only slight pain and pressure. However, when she got her second IUD, Forteau says she felt “a tight, coiled pressure that spread” throughout her entire body, causing her to break out in a cold sweat and experience intense nausea.

The painful cramping Forteau experienced when her second IUD was inserted would “randomly” show up in the months that followed, she says, but eventually, the pain subsided.

Forteau says that “even after all that,” she does not regret her decision to get another IUD and that having one gives her peace of mind. “It definitely brings stability to my emotions and also my own comfort knowing I’m protecting myself,” she says.

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